Random selector system for advertising,sales promotion,and selection of award recipients



F. B. WALTON 3,466,045 RANDOM SELECTOR SYSTEM FOR ADVERTISING, SALESSept. 9, 1969 PROMOTION, AND SELECTION OF AWARD RECIPIENTS Filed March21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l lgzza INVENTOR.

FREDRIC B. WALTON ATTORNEY p 1969 F. B. WALTON 3.46 9

RANDOM SELECTOR SYSTEM FOR ADVERTlSlNU, SALES PROMOTION, AND SELECTIONOF AWARD RECIPIENTS Filed March 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FREDRIC B. WALTON ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 273-138 7 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A random electric circuit closing apparatusthat includes a hollow cylindrical housing wherein the lower internalsurface is provided with a plurality of recesses into which a ballrolling upon such surface may randomly seat. Some of the recesses haveelectrical contacts therein and the ball, which is electricallyconductive, will bridge such contacts if the ball comes to rest in arecess so equipped. An electrically driven rotary vane periodicallymoves the ball from the lower portion of the housing (and such recess inwhich it is seated) and allows the ball to fall gravitationally so as toroll upon the surface and again become randomly seated in one of therecesses. Normally open electrical signal circuit means are coupled tothe contacts which may be bridged by the ball.

The present invention relates to apparatus that will signal theoccurrence of a randomly occurring event for use in conjunction with apre-established set of rules such that the signal will serve todesignate the person or persons thereby entitled to an award, premiumdiscount or the like in sales or good-will promotion efforts.

The present invention has to do with apparatus having objectives andcapable of serving functions analogous to the prior art proposals setforth in the following US. patents, the disclosures of which are hereinincorporated by reference:

I6J.S. Patent No. 3,129,004, issued to Ritzler Apr. 14, 19 4.

1 21.8. Patent No. 2,998,252 issued to St. Martin Aug. 29,

1921.8. Patent No. 3,138,385 issued to Giacobello June 23,

U.S. Patent No. 2,781,949 issued to Stoneburner Feb. 19, 1957.

US. Patent No. 2,361,977 issued to Stair Nov. 7, 1944.

US. Patent No. 2,679,398 issued to Jameson May 25, 1954.

US. Patent No. 2,256,782 issued to Pappert Sept. 23, 1941.

A broad aspect of the invention involves i a random selector switch theprovision of an improvement comprising a body having a recess in the topthereof adapted to receive the lower portion of a ball therein, anelectrically conductive ball receivable in the recess, said recesshaving a depth substantially less than the radius of the ball wherebyonly the lower portion of the ball is receivable in the recess andwhereby the ball can be removed from the recess upon the application ofa horizontally directed force to the ball, and an electrical contact inthe recess engageable with the ball when the latter is received in therecess, said contact being electrically insulated from the body, wherebythe ball may electrically close a circuit through the electricalcontact.

A more limited aspect of this aspect of the invention involves theforegoing, wherein said body has a generally concave upper surface soconstructed and arranged for gravitationally retaining thereon a ballrolling thereupon, and said body having a second recess in the topthereof adapted to receive the lower portion of the ball and having adepth substantially less than the radius of the ball, the arrangementand construction being such that the ball can in rolling upon theconcave surface of the body roll into and be received and retained ineither the first mentioned or the second recess until forced therefrom,whereby the ball can be sequestered against subsequent movement into theother recess and will on being received and retained in the secondrecess be prevented from engaging the electrical contact in the firstmentioned recess.

Still another broad aspect of the invention involves, in apparatus forclosing an electric circuit in a random manner, the improvementcomprising a plurality of individual means for competing to capture aball moving among such plurality of individual means, at least one andless than all of said individual means being provided with a normallyopen circuit element means responsive to capture of a ball by suchindividual means to close such circuit element means, a ball, and meansfor periodically freeing the ball from the plurality of individual meansand causing movement of the freed ball among the plurality of individualmeans, whereby a predetermined probability of closure of the normallyopen circuit element means is caused to recur periodically. This aspectof the invention has a more limited aspect, wherein the last recitedmeans includes an electric cash register provided with an intermittentlyenergized, electrically actuated registering means, with the normallyopen circuit means being in electrical parallel to the registeringmeans, and means operative upon the signal means being coupled to asource of electrical energy to keep the signal means coupled to a sourceof electrical energy.

Yet another aspect of the invention involves in apparatus for closing anelectric circuit in a random manner, the improvement comprising aplurality of individual means for competing to capture a ball movingamong such plurality of individual means, at least one and less than allof said individual means being provided with a normally open circuitelement means responsive to capture of a ball by such individual meansto close such circuit element means, a ball, and means for periodicallyfreeing the ball from the plurality of individual means and causingmovement of the freed ball among the plurality of individual means,whereby a predetermined probability of closure of the normally opencircuit element means is caused to recur periodically, wherein theplurality of individual means comprises a body having a concave uppersurface and having a plurality of recesses in the upper surface, saidnormally open circuit element means provided for said one recesscomprising a pair of electrically isolated electrical contacts disposedin said one recess and adapted to be electrically engaged by the ballwhen the latter is received and retained in said one recess, with saidball being electrically conductive, whereby the ball can electricallybridge and close the normally open circuit element means, and whereinthe last recited means comprises a shaft mounted for rotation above theconcave surface, a constant speed electric motor drivingly connected tothe shaft and a radially extending vane fixed to the shaft for rotationtherewith, with the vane having a free end spaced from the shaft by anamount such as to pass during rotation of the shaft adjacent the concavesurface with running clearance, whereby the vane will engage and forcethe ball from such of the recesses in which it is received and the ballwill fall free from engagement with the vane to the concave surface onfurther rotation of the vane.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatthe apparatus can readily be placed in such a condition that the signalwill be given at any time that the ball or balls are in selectingposition or positions,

or alternatively in a second condition such that not only must the ballor balls be in a selected position or selecting positions but thatconcurrently yet another condition must exist in the nature ofassociated equipment having a component thereof energized for a signalto be effected (such associated equipment may be such as is energizedduring the time of making a purchase as, for example, gasoline fillingstation equipment in which case the component thereof requiringconcurrent energization is usually the electric motor driving thedispensing pump or the solenoid of an electrically controlled dispensingvalve; and an electric cash register (usually of the adding type) inwhich case the component thereof requiring concurrent energization isusually the electric motor driving the registering or indicating meansthereof, or the solenoid of an electrically controlled clutch thereofthat in response to manual actuation of a key or keys of the keyboardengages or drivingly couples a continuously operating electric motorwith the registering or indicating means; etc.).

Another feature of the invention of importance is that the apparatuscan, while preserving random character as to the time that signaling iseffected, be readily adjusted to control the average frequency ofeffecting signals.

Still another important feature of the invention which can optionally beemployed resides in the exposure to view of the heart of the selectingsystem whereby the proper operation therof can be visually ascertainedand additionally function as an interest or excitement stimulatingdevice and as an educational device affording an insight into theoperation of the mathematical laws of probability. In the latter regardthe device has utility solely for educational and amusement purposes,and this is especially true when the effect of varying the parameterscontrolling the average rate of signaling or making selections is understudy.

These and other various objects, functions, modes or utilization,aspects and features of the invention will become abundantly clear inthe light of the following description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention given in conjunction with accompanying drawings illustrativethereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view taken toward the face of the apparatusaccording to the invention with portions being broken away to revealconcealed parts;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1,with hidden components being shown in dashed outline;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES land 2, with a portion of the power supply cord being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the plane of thesection line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a broken vertical sectional view taken upon the plane of thesection line 5-5 in FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical circuitry of theapparatus shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 and illustrating the mode ofelectrical connection of the apparatus to a cash register.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like partsthroughout the various views, the reference numeral 10 designatesgenerally an electric randomly actuated switch assembly or selector, thesame being comprised of a housing or enclosure constituted of spacedvertical and parallel front and rear walls 12 and 14 that are connectedby spaced vertical side walls 16 and 18, and spaced bottom and top walls20 and 22. Whereas the rear wall 14, the side walls 16 and 18, and thebottom and top walls 20 and 22 are of opaque material (conveniently ametallic material such as aluminum or steel or a synthetic resinpreferably of the thermosetting type such as sold under the trademarkBakelite by Union Carbide & Carbon Corp., 30 E. 42nd St., New York 17,NY.) and preferably of integral construction,

the front Wall 12 is preferably transparent for a purpose presently tobe explained and is detachably secured to form a part of the housing bymeans of screws or threaded fasteners such as those indicated at 24 and26, the arrangement being such that the front wall 12 can be removed soas to afford access to the interior 27 of the housing.

A hollow cylindrical body of electrically insulative material 28 havingan axial extent substantially equal to the spacing of the front and rearwalls 12 and 14 is disposed in the housing with its axis disposedhorizontally, and the same is secured to the rear wall 14 by means ofthreaded fasteners such as the one indicated at 30 in FIGURE 5 extendingthrough the rear wall 14 and into the body 28 at positions spaced aboutthe circumference of the hollow cylindrical body 28. A small constantspeed electric motor 32, which can conveniently be of the character suchas employed in electric clocks, is mounted on the outside of the rearwall 14 as shown in FIGURE 3. The electric motor 32 can includeconventional reduction gearing so as to drive an output shaft, notshown, at a low rotational velocity. The electric motor 32 and means fordriving an output shaft at a low rotational velocity can be such asmarketed by 'Ingraham as MOD. 21 which drives an output shaft at therate of one revolution per minute and which operates upon energizationfrom a source of 60-cycle current at volts. Such construction bears astatutory patent notice with respect to US. Patent No. 2,677,776.

The output shaft, not shown, of the electric prime mover 32 is in axialalignment with the hollow cylindrical body 28 and extends through asuitable opening in the rear wall 14 affording free running clearancetherefor into the interior 27 of the housing, and is secured to ashaft36 of relatively larger diameter that is coaxial with and ofsubstantially the same axial extent as the hollow cylindrical body 28,the arrangement being such that the shaft 36 will be driven at aconstant angular velocity during energization of the electric primemover 32.

The shaft 36 has fixed thereto for rotation therewith an arcuate vane38, the radial extent of the vane 38 being such that the free edge 40terminates in close proximity to the cylindrical inner surface 42 of thehollow cylindrical body 28. The axial extent of the vane 38 issubstantially equal to that of the hollow cylindrical body 28, but issufficiently shorter so as not to come into frictional engagement withthe front end rear walls 12 and 14 during rotation of the shaft 36.

The relationship between the direction of rotation of the shaft 36during energization of the prime mover 32 to the arcuate form of thevane 38 is such that the concave side 44 of the vane 38 is the leadingside during rotation of the shaft 36. It will also be noted in thepreferred construction that the vane 38 is positioned on the shaft 36 insuch a manner that the vane 38 extends substantially in a purely radialdirection from the shaft 36 at the position of juncture of suchelements, and thereafter curves from a purely radial component to aprogressively greater circumferential component so as to be extending ina direction inclined at an acute angle to the adjacent portion of theinternal surface 42 of the hollow cylindrical body 28 at the free endedge 40 of the vane 38. It will be also noted on inspection of FIGURES 1and 2 that the free end edge 40 of the vane 38 is beveled so as topresent a sharpened leading edge enabling the concave surface 44 toterminate in very close, but free running, proximity to the cylindricalinner surface 42 of the hollow cylindrical body 28.

In view of the foregoing it will be understood that as viewed in FIGURES1 and 2 the shaft 36 and the vane 38 will be rotated in a clockwisedirection at a constant angular velocity during energization of theelectric prime mover 32.

As clearly shown in FIGURES l and 4, the lowermost portion of the hollowcylindrical body 28 is provided by a dense or compact array of concaverecesses such as .those indicated at 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 land 62.Each of the recesses 50 through 62 is substantially identical and ofequal depth, and are preferably such as to have an internal surfaceconformable to a spherical surface of a given radius, and with therecesses having a depth substantially less than such given radius, allas clearly shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 5. In the preferred constructionso as to obtain a dense and compact array of recesses, a honeycombpattern so to speak is established by forming a series or row ofrecesses that extend axially along the lowermost portion of the internalsurface 42, such row being made up of recesses such as those indicatedat 54 and 60, with adjacent rows or series of staggered recesses beingformed on opposite sides of the lowermost row, the recesses 52 and 58being such as included in one of such adjacent rows of recesses and therecess 56 being exemplary of recesses disposed on the other side of thelowermost row of recesses. Such area of recesses is extended such as toinclude rows of receses such as the recess 50. Such area of provision ofrecesses can be extended in both directions circumferentially from thebottom of the body 28 as far as desired; however, as Will be presentlyapparent, there is no benefit to be obtained on carrying the provisionof recesses upwardly to such an extent that the inclination of thesurface 42 would prevent such recesses being capable of retaining a balltherein.

At least one and preferably a plurality of the recesses is provided witha normally open electric circuit means or open electric switch elements(which may be closed by means subsequently to be described), and suchnormally open electric circuit means preferably takes the form withrespect to each of the recesses so provided of a pair of spacedelectrical contacts defining portions of the surface of the recess orpreferably projecting a short distance into such recess, whereby anelectrically conductive object disposed within the recess canelectrically bridge such contacts and thereby serve to close thenormally open electric circuit means. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention two of the entire array of recesses in the internal lowerportion of the body 28 are provided with normally open electric circuitmeans of the character indicated, namely, the recesses 52 and 62 withall the other recesses such as the recesses 50, 54, 56, 58 and 60 beingdevoid of provision of such means. The normally open electric circuit orswitch means of the recesses 52 and 62 are respectively indicated at 70and 72. Inasmuch as the normally open electric circuit or switch means70 and 72 are essentially identical to each other, a detaileddescription of a normally open circuit or switch means 72 will sufficefor both, and for this purpose attention is directed to FIGURE 5 for anappreciation of the means 72 provided in association with the recess 62.

The normally open electric circuit or switch means 72 comprises a pairof electrically conductive screws or electrodes 74 and 76 (which can besteel or preferably brass, plated or unplated with a corrosion resistantmetal such as tin or the like) that are threaded in or press fittedthrough the electrically insulative material of the hollow cylindricalbody 28 from the underside thereof to project their upper free ends 78and 80 into the recess 62. As clearly shown on inspection of FIGURE 5,the screws or electrodes 74 and 76 are preferably inclined to each otherand are directed so as to have projections thereof intersect with thecenter of a sphere such as to be conformable to the concave surface ofthe recess 62, and also it will be noted that in the preferredconstruction that the screws or electrodes 74 and 76 actually project avery slight interval into the recess 62 so that the free ends or contactends 78 and 80 thereof are spaced slightly above the internal surface ofthe recess 62; however, it will be noted that such extent or projection(exaggerated somewhat in FIGURE 5 for purposes of illustration) is notsuch that the contacts or free ends 78 and will prevent a spherical ball82 from being disposed within or seated in the recess 62 so as to beretained by the latter. It will be evident that when the ball 82 isdisposed so as to be seated in the recess 62, such ball 82, which isformed of an electrically conductive material such as brass, engages thecontacts 78 and 82 mechanically and electrically so as to electricallybridge and thereby close the normally opened electric circuit or switchmeans 72, with the ball 82 being seated or retained in the recess 62(when the latter is at rest) in the sense of projecting downwardly atleast to some extent into the recess 62 so as to engage or rest upon thecontacts 78 and 82 and otherwise engage and be prevented from rollingfrom the recess 62 by the material of the body 28 defining theperipheral extent of the recess 62.

Preferably the ball 82 has a radius such that the external surface isconformable approximately to the radius of curvature of the recess 62 aswell as of all the other recesses such as those indicated at 50, 52, 54,56, 58 and 60. The arrangement is such that when the ball 82 is disposedin any of the recesses 50 through 62 and is at rest, such ball 82 willbe retained and prevented from rolling from the recess within which itis seated or disposed. It should also be noted that the radius of theball 82 is considerably greater than the depth of the recesses 50through 62, whereby the ball 82 can be readily dislodged from any recessin which it may be seated by applying a lateral force to the ball 82.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 5, the lower ends of the screws or electrodes74 and 76 extend below or to the outside of the hollow cylindrical body28 and are adapted to be electrically connected to insulated electricalconductors such as those shown at 84 and 86, respectively. The manner inwhich electrical conductors such as those indicated at 84 and 86associated with various normally open electric circuit or switch meanssuch as 70 and 72 are incorporated in electrical circuitry of theapparatus 10 will subsequently be described in connection with theschematic diagram of FIGURE 6.

The ball 82 as well as a ball 90 identical thereto are disposed in thehollow interior 92 of the hollow cylindrical body 28, it being notedthat the front and rear walls 12 and 14 serve to retain the balls 82 and90 within such space 92. The balls 82 and 90 will as indicated in FIGURE1 be normally seated in any pair of the recesses 50 through 62 in thebody 28, and will remain so seated until energization of the prime mover32 and consequent rotation of the shaft 36 and the vane 38 is such as tocause the end 40 of the vane 38 to engage the balls. Continued rotationof the shaft 36 causes the vane 38 to force or dislodge the balls 82 and90 from the recesses in which they may be seated and to be moved in aclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2, about the inner surface of thehollow cylindrical body 28. Eventually such continued rotation of thevane 38 urges the balls to such a position that they will roll upon thethen upwardly facing concave surface 44 of the vane 38, and withcontinued clockwise rotation, as seen in FIGURE 2, of the vane 38 theballs will move radially inward on the concave surface 44 of the vane 38toward the shaft 36, and eventually with continued rotation of the shaft36 and the vane 38 the balls 82 and 90 will roll over the shaft 36 anddrop free of the support previously afforded the same by the shaft 36and the vane 38, with the falling balls 82 and 90 falling upon the lowerportion of the internal surface 42 of the hollow cylindrical body 28 ata position displaced somewhat to the right, as seen in FIGURE 2, of theposition directly lying below the axis of the shaft 36, suchdisplacement to the right being determined by the radius of the shaft36.

Upon falling from the shaft 36 and the vane 38, the balls 82 and 90bounce and roll about vigorously upon the lower portion of the internalsurface 42 of the body 28 because of the potential energy releasedthereto during their fall, and such rolling and bouncing about occurs ina substantially entirely unpredictable manner so that when the balls 82and 90 eventually come to rest and are seated or disposed within a pairof the recesses 50 through 62, the pair of recesses thereby selected inan essentially random manner from among the number of possiblecombinations of two recesses from the entire array of recesses. Thus,the geometry of the system is such that the pair of recesses in whichthe balls 82 and 90 finally come to rest is selected in an entirelyarbitrary or random manner such as to allow full play of the laws ofprobability. Enjoyment of the invention does not require that there bean equal likelihood or probability of selection of every combination oftwo electrodes, it being only essential that there be a predeterminedprobability in the case of the illustrated embodiment of the inventionthat the balls 82 and 90 will come to rest in the recesses 52 and 62with such probability being greater than zero and less than unity.

It will be noted that the balls 82 and 80 fall as described above fromthe shaft 36 and the vane 38 while the angular position of such elementsis such that the vane 38 extends generally in an upward direction fromthe shaft 36 at its juncture with the latter and while the end edge 40of the vane 38 is substantially angularly disposed in an anticlockwisedirection from the nearest of the recesses through 62 which it isapproaching on rotation of the shaft 36 as seen in FIGURE 2. Suchangular displacement of the edge 40 of the Vane 38 from the recesses 50through 62 is such that, in relation to the angular velocity of theshaft 36, the balls 82 and 90 will have ample time to come to rest andremain at rest for at least an interval of time before the edge 40 ofthe vane 38 reaches in its travel the nearest of the recesses 50 through62.

In view of the foregoing, each revolution of the shaft 36 is accompaniedby a single selection of a pair of the the recesses 50 through 62, suchselection being defined by the balls 82 and 90 being seated or disposedso as to remain at rest in such pair of recesses until forced therefromby engagement by the vane 38.

Attention is now directed to the schematic diagram shown in FIGURE 6,wherein the previously described arrangement for selecting a pair ofrecesses is indicated in dashed outline at 100, and the operativeconnection thereof to the electric prime mover 32 is indicated by thedashed line 102. Such of the recesses 50 through 62 provided withnormally open electric circuit or switch means, namely, recesses 52 and62, are shown in FIGURE 6, together with their respective normallyopened electric circuit or switch means and 72 as they form a part ofthe electrical circuitry. For a similar reason the balls 82 and areshown in FIGURE 6.

Fused electrical conductors or leads 104 and 106 forming a part of theelectric supply cord 108 of FIGURE 1 are provided which can be connectedby means of a pronged plug 110 to electrical energy supply means, notshown, of 60-cycle 1l5-volt alternating current. The electric primemover 32 is energized through electrical leads 112 and 114, and anelectric switch 116 is provided whereby the electrical lead 114 can beselectively coupled to and uncoupled from the power supply lead 106. Theother electrical lead 112 of the prime mover 32 is connected to a powerlead 118 that is in turn coupled to the power supply lead 104.Accordingly, closure of the switch 116 effects continuous energizationof the prime mover 32 with consequent driving of the shaft 36 and thevane 38 at a constant speed of rotation. The switch 116 preferably takesthe physical form of a single-pole, single-throw toggle switch mountedas shown in FIGURE 2 through the side wall 18 so that the toggle ormanual actuation lever 120 thereof is disposed externally of thehousing. An indicator lamp 122, preferably an incandescent lamp, isconnected by leads 124 and 126 respectively to the leads 114 and 118 soas to be energized concurrently with the prime mover 32. The lamp 122 ispreferably mounted within a housing 128 secured to the outside of therear wall 14 and is exposed to View through the transparent front wall12 through a suitable opening in the rear wall 14, the arrangement beingsuch that not only is the lamp 122 viewable through the transparentfront wall 12, but preferably also such that light emitted by the lamp122 will illuminate the interior of the hollow cylindrical body 28 andespecially to illuminate the balls 82 and 90 during the time they arecoming to rest in a pair of the recesses 50 through 62. Thus, the lamp122 serves the dual functions of indicating that the prime mover 32 isenergized and also of illuminating and making visible through the frontwall 12 the physical movements of the vane 38 and the balls 82 and 80.

The reference numeral 130 designates a single-pole, double-throwelectric switch, which is like the electric switch 116 of the snapaction toggle type and is mounted on the side wall 18 adjacent theswitch 116. The switch 130 is shown in FIGURE 6 as in the positioncoupling a lead 132 to a lead 134 that is in turn coupled to the powersupply lead 106. The reference numeral 136 designates generally anelectric relay that includes a solenoid 138, and one terminal of thesolenoid 138' is connected to the lead 118 with the other terminal ofthe solenoid 138 being connected ot the lead 132 in electrical serieswith the normally open electric circuit means 70 and 72 by means ofleads 140 and 142, the arrangement being such that when the power supplyleads 104 and 106 are connected to a source of electrical energy, theswitch 130 being in the position shown, and with the balls 82 and 90closing both of the normally open electric circuit or switch means 70and 72, the solenoid 138 of the relay 136 is energized. For reasonssubsequently to be explained, the relay 136 can, if desired or deemedexpedient, be of the time delay type, though this is definitely notessential. The relay 136 includes a pair of normally open single-poleelectric switches having one pair of terminals connected to the powersupply lead 106 by a lead 150. One terminal 152 of the relay switch 154is connected by a lead 156 to the solenoid 138 and the lead 140 as shownthrough a normally closed push button switch 158. The arrangement issuch that upon energization of the solenoid 138 for a sufficient periodof time to close the switch 154, the solenoid 138 will remaincontinuously energized through the lead 156 until the push button switch158 is depressed to open the lead 156. The circuitry is such as toconstitute a holding relay which is releasable by actuation of theswitch 158. The push button switch 158 can be conveniently mounted onthe side wall 18 as shown in FIGURE 2.

One terminal 160 of the relay switch 162 is connected by a lead 164 toan electrically actuated bell 166, the other terminal of the bell 166being connected to the lead 118 as shown. The arrangement is such thatthe bell 166 is energized for actuation during such interval that therelay switch 162 is closed by the energization of the solenoid 138.

In the preferred construction the bell 166 is mounted upon the rear wall14 by means of a threaded fastener 168 at a position below the hollowcylindrical body 28 as clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 5.

A receptacle 170 for a two-prong plug is mounted in the side wall 16 asindicated in FIGURES 1 and 2, and the receptacle 170 is coupled to theleads 164 and 118- by leads 172 and 174, so as to be in electricalparallel with the bell 166. As shown in FIGURE 6, the plug receptacle170 constitutes an electrical coupling means 176 whereby the leads 172and 174 can be coupled by means of leads 178 and 180 to a soundingdevice or visual indicator such as, for example, the bell indicated at182. T hus, a sounding or visual signaling means such as the bell 182located at a remote position from the apparatus 10 can be plugged intothe plug receptacle 170 so as to be concurrently energized and activatedin unison with the bell 166.

As thus far described, during each cycle or revolution of the shaft 36and the vane 38, the balls 82 and 90 will in a random or arbitraryfashion determined by the laws of probability come to rest in a pair ofthe recesses 50 through 62, and in the event such pair of recesseshappens in the illustrated embodiment to be the recesses 52 and 62, suchballs will serve to close the normally open circuit or switch means 70and 72 and thus complete a circuit between the leads 132. and 140, whichwill assuming the switch 130 to be in the position shown result inenergization of the solenoid 138 with resulting closure (after a timedelay if the relay is of such type) of the relay switches 154 and 162.Such closure of the relay switches 154 and 162 results in maintainingenergization of the relay solenoid 138 through the lead 156 andenergization of the bell 166 as well as any other electrically actuatedaudible or visible signaling device such as the bell 182 which may beplugged into the plug receptacle 170 for energization. The energizationof the signaling devices such as the bells 166 and 182 will continueeven after the balls 82 and 90 may have been displaced from the recesses52 and 62 by reason of the closure of the relay switch 154, and thesignaling devices will remain continuously actuated until the pushbutton switch 158 has been depressed so as to deenergize the solenoid138, and will even continue thereafter until such time as the balls 82and 90 have been displaced from the recesses 52 and 62. In other words,the energization of devices such as those indicated at 166 and 182 canbe discontinued by depression of the push button switch 158 only afterthe balls 82 and 90 have been displaced from the recesses 52 and 62.

As mentioned previously, the relay 136 can if desired be of conventionaltime delay character insofar as closure of the switches 154 and 162 isconcerned after the relay 138 has been energized. This may possibly bedesired so that signaling of what may be termed false character can beavoided. This is of course not essential, but it may be preferred thatsignaling will not occur in the event that prior to actually coming torest in a pair of recesses the balls 82 and 90 might momentarily happento concurrently close the normally open circuit means 70 and 72 whilenot actually coming to rest in both of the recesses 52 and 62.Therefore, use of a relay 136 of a delay type would prevent such falseindication of the balls actually coming finally to rest in the recesses52 and 62. Also, such time delay feature of the relay 136 can preventwhat might also be false signaling of yet another character, namely,such signaling as might occur during the time that the vane 38 is movingthe balls 82 and 90 across the array of recesses 50 through 62 andduring such direct movement of the balls cause the balls to momentarilyor for a short time interval enter the recesses that are provided withnormally open circuit means such as those indicated at 70 and 72. Falsesignaling of the latter mentioned character will rarely if ever occur,if the recesses provided with such normally open circuit means arepositioned as to not lie along a line parallel to the axis of the hollowcylindrical body 28 or the edge 40 of the vane 38 (as in the illustratedembodiment wherein the recesses 52 and 62 are circumferentially spacedfrom each other with respect to the axis of the hollow cylindrical body28). Alternatively, such latter character of what has been termed falseSignaling can not occur if actuation of the relay is possible only whena ball must be in the first row of recesses reached by the vane.

Actually, the two types of false signaling discussed above are onlyfalse in the sense that the user may not desire signaling to occurexcept with respect to final *resting position of the ball or balls, andindeed such additional possibilities of signaling can be desired. The

latter is especially true as spectator interest can be greatlystimulated. Thus, a spectator can be intrigued by observing the ball orballs (a) during the bouncing and rolling thereof about the array ofrecesses (as the first type of false signaling mentioned may thenoccur), (b) observing the final resting position or positions of theball or balls, and (c) observing the erratic course or courses of theball or balls as they are nudged along by the vane (as the second typeof false signaling may then occur).

Accordingly, there can be three distinct types of possibilities forsignaling to occur during each revolution of the vane, namely, theprimary possibility resulting from the ball or balls coming finally torest, and the secondary possibilities of the ball being in theappropriate recess or concurrently being the appropriate recesses duringthe course of the ball or balls coming to rest or the ball or ballsbeing moved by the vane from the array of recesses. The laws ofprobability are obviously applicable to the secondary possibilities dueto the random course or courses of the ball or balls.

While it is preferred that signaling can occur from both the primary andeither one or both secondary possibilities for the reasons of greaterspectator interest and the usually lesser cost of ordinary relays (thosenot including a special time delay feature), such preference may differas among various users; hence, it is mentioned for the guidance of usersthat the first type of possibility (that occurs as the ball or balls arecoming to final rest) can be enhanced by the use of relatively fastacting relays and reduced by the use of relatively slow acting relays.The second type of secondary possibility can be reduced or eliminated bythe use of relatively slow acting relays and/ or the selection of theposition of a recess or recesses in which a ball must be in order toresult in signaling as previously described.

The invention as thus far described has a large variety of uses whichwill readily come to the mind of those skilled in the art, and it willonly be necessary to suggest a few of such uses. The same may affordamusement value to children as well as to adults in providing or endinga time interval which is of indeterminate but of a most probableduration. As such a timing device the same can be useful in conjunctionwith the playing of games allows a participant a period of time toconclude a guessing or searching activity or game, and the indeterminatecharacter of the interval measured by the apparatus described above canadd considerable zest to the game or activity by forcing upon suchparticipant a sense of urgency that may or may not prove to have beenjustified much to the amusement of other participants and spectatorsalike. The apparatus also has educational utility facilitating study ofthe probability of the occurrence of events, and also in the study ofhow variation of various parameters (such as relay response time, etc.)affect the frequency of occurrence of such events. As an example of aparameter that may be varied, either one or the other of the normallyopen electric circuit or switch means and 72 may be shorted out, whichmay be accomplished in the case of the means 72 by electricallyconnecting a wire, not shown, between the screws 74 and 76 below thebody 28.

The apparatus can be conspicuously displayed in a bar or tavern withinthe view of customers or patrons under an arrangement or house rule suchthat all customers or patrons will receive a drink on the house on theoccurrence of the signaling means being actuated. It will be noted thatthe house can effect any desired average time interval betweensuccessive actuation of the signaling means by selecting a prime mover32 so as to obtain a desired frequency of cycles of operation (that is,rate of angular velocity of the shaft 36 and the vane 38), or byshorting out one of the normally open electric circuit or switch means70 and 72.

Another utility may reside in positioning apparatus of the characterthus far described at each check-out stand or position in a grocerystore or supermarket under a house rule such that whenever a customer orpatron is in the process of passing through such check stand at the timethat the signaling means of the apparatus at his particular check-outstand is actuated will receive a stated discount on the total amount ofhis purchase. This arrangement produces a great stimulation in sales byreason of the fact that the time interval during which a particularpatron or customer is entitled to receive an award or discount may beextended by such customer or patron having selected a large number ofitems for purchase as such greater quantity normally entails a longerperiod at the check-out stand for totalizing the amount due in payment.The stimulating effect tends to increase or to be accumulative where aplurality of check-out stands are involved as any particular customer orpatron will be made acutely aware of all instances of lucky patrons orcustomers in all the check-out stands or positions by virtue of audibleor visual signal devices arranged to be heard or seen by all.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described can optionally beoperated in such a manner as to be dependent upon yet another concurrentoccurrence with the proper seating (or momentary positions) of the ballsin order for the signaling means to be actuated as will be presentlydescribed. Such other concurrent condition can be such as thatoccasioned by operation of accessory equipment involving the latterbeing in such a state that some electrical component of such accessoryequipment is concurrently energized. As an example of a wide variety ofsuch uses, the signaling means of the apparatus thus far described canbe made to require as a condition for actuation the concurrentenergization of the pump driving electric motor of a filling stationpump or the concurrent energization of an electrically actuated valve ofsuch fuel dispensing unit. On the other hand such dependence may be uponthe concurrent energization of a component of an elec tric cash registeror the like, such electrical component in this case being either theelectric motor driving the cash register mechanism or an electric clutchcontrolling mechanical coupling of the electric motor to registeringmechanism.

For purposes of illustration of the apparatus being utilized inconjunction with and made dependent upon energi'zation of someelectrical component of accessory equipment, there is shown in FIGURE 6an electric cash register designated generally at 200 which includes amanually actuated key board or set of keys 202. The cash register 200 asis conventional includes electrically actuated means schematicallyillustrated at 204 that is energized in response to manipulation of akey or keys of a key board 202 to actuate registering or indicatingmechanism of the cash register 200. Such means 204 can be either anelectric motor energized intermittently at the intervals that theregistering or indicating means of the cash register 200 are actuated,or can be the solenoid of an electrically actuated clutch forintermittently coupling a continuously operating electric motor to theregistering or indicating means, as will be appreciated by thosefamiliar with the art. Whatever the specific character of theconventional means 204 may be, the reference numeral 206 in FIGURE 6schematically indicates a key board 202 controlled electric switch thatis normally open and which is closed on appropriate manipulation of thekey board 202 to actuate the registering or indicating means, not shown,of the conventional cash register 200.

The power supply leads 104 and 106 are respectively connected to aterminal 208 and one terminal 209 of the switch 206 by leads 210 and 211as shown, and the other terminal 212 of the switch 206 is connected by alead 214 to the previously described single-pole, doublethrow switch130. The electrical component 204 of the cash register 200 iselectrically connected by leads 216 and 218 between the terminal 208 andthe terminal 212 of the switch 206, the arrangement being such that the12 electric component 2.04 is energized whenever the electric switch 206is closed.

Whenever accessory electric equipment such as the cash register 200 isto be employed in conjunction with apparatus 10, the electric switch 130is moved from the position shown thereof to electrically connect theleads 132 and 214, whereby closure of the switch 206 results inenergizing the lead 132 from the power lead 106. This in turn results inthe event the normally open circuit means and 72 are closed by the balls82 and in energization of the solenoid 138 of the relay 136. When theapparatus 10 is to "be used in this manner the time delay of the relay(if the latter is of the time delay type) 136 should be less than theduration of the period that the switch 206 is closed during operation ofthe key board 202. With such limitation upon the duration of the timedelay, if any, of the relay 136, closure of the switch 206 thereforeresults in actuation of the switches 154 and 162 to their closedpositions with resultant energization of the signaling means 166 and 182and the continued energization of the solenoid 138 until such time asthe push button switch 158 is manually depressed to open the same.

The preceding comments relating to selecting a time delay for the relay136 (if the latter includes such special provision) such as to beshorter than the time interval during which the switch 206 is closed maybe disregarded when in lieu of the cash register 200 a gasolinedispensing and metering pump is involved in which event the electricalcomponent 204 is normally either the pump driving electric motor thereofor an electrically actuated dispensing valve control, because the switch206 employed to energize such differing character of electricalcomponents is normally closed for a rather protracted period duringwhich gasoline is actually being dispensed or metered to the customersautomobile.

The advertising or sales promotion value of associating accessoryequipment such as the cash register 200 with the apparatus 10 will beobvious in that a system of awards or premiums can be readilyestablished for the benefit of the customer or patron such as to allowthe customer or patron involved, either at the cash register 200 or atthe filling station dispensing and metering apparatus, to receive someaward or premium such as a discount in the price totalized on the cashregister 200 or registered on the filling station pump. Obviously, othersystems of awards can be employed such as gifts in the nature of toys orcandy for the children and so forth.

Whereas in FIGURE 6 the leads 210, 211 and 214 are shown as beingcontinuous, it is preferred that such leads be discontinuous with meansbeing provided for detachably coupling such leads. For this purpose, theportion of the leads 210, 211 and 214 connected to the leads 118, 106,and the switch are connected to a receptacle 220 mounted in the sidewall 18 as shown, whereby the other portions of the discontinuous leads210, 211, and 214 can be provided with a three-prong plug, not shown,for detachable coupling by way of the recepticle 220 to the remainingportions of the leads 210, 211 and 214 to effect the circuitry shown inFIGURE 6, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The connections between the cash register and the signaling system canvary widely from those specifically shown and described, as will beabundantly clear to those skilled in the art. It is deemed well withinthe skill of the art that the random switch and signaling system be suchas to constitute a plug-in accessory of the cash register with thelatter being connected to power mains by a power cord to obtain powerfor itself and the plug-in accessory.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the invention is susceptibleto numerous variations without departing from the spirit thereof. Forexample, as many of the recesses as desired can be provided withnormally open circuit means such as those indicated at 70 and 72 and oneor more parallel paths be established between the lead 132 and the lead140 as desired with each of such paths incorporating in electricalseries as many of the individual normally open circuit means as desired,it being understood that as many electrically conductive balls such asthose indicated at 82 and 90 be employed as there are individual circuitmeans in series in any one of the parallel paths, for otherwise it wouldbe impossible for the balls to complete a circuit along such a path soas to energize the solenoid 138. If desired there can be as few as onepath such as shown (having one or more circuit means in series-two beingshown in this particular instance), or any greater number as may bedesired. In general, it is only essential in the practice of theinvention that there be at least as many balls employed as to besufiicient to close at least one circuit path for initial energizationof the solenoid 138, and that the number of balls employed be less thanthat which would in every case result in energization of the solenoid138. When parallel paths are provided for energizing the solenoid 138,it is not essential that each path employ in series identical numbers(one or more) of normally open circuit means such as those shown at 70and 72. Whatever arrangement is employed, it is evident that variationin the number of balls employed enables the user to vary the probabilityof the solenoid 138 being energized during any one revolution of thevane 38. Clearly, if no balls are employed, energization of the solenoid138 has the probability of zero, and this is unchanged when one ball isemployed with the illustrated embodiment. The use of two balls makesenergization of the solenoid 138 possible but not .a certainty in theillustrated embodiment. Increasing the number of balls increases theprobability of the solenoid 138 becoming energized during one cycle ofrevolution of the vane 38, with such energization becoming a certaintywhen the number of balls employed equals to the total number of recessesprovided (in actuality this may not be strictly true as one or moreballs may under such circumstances become lodged in a position otherthan in a recess). These comments should suffice to enable a clearunderstanding of the flexibility of probability of actuating thesignaling means during any single rotation of the vane 38.

It will be evident that the relay 136 could employ a single switchrather than the two switches 154 and 162 shown, as the electricalcondition of the two switch terminals 152 and 160 are identical at alltimes; however, the illustrated embodiment is preferred so as to avoidany possibility of surge currents such as may be drawn by the signalingmeans passing through the normally open circuit means such as thoseindicated at 70 and 72.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the manner inwhich the balls are picked up by the vane 38 and thereafter released tofall from the vane 38 and the shaft 36 that the balls do not come intocontact with the upper portion of the hollow cylindrical body 28, andaccordingly, if desired the upper portion of the body 28 can bedispensed with entirely as it does not perform any ball confiningfunction. Indeed, many variations with respect to the configuration ofthe body 28 and the vane 38 will readily come to mind such that it isnot essential that the vane 38 be arcuate as shown and preferred, and inthat it is not essential that the balls be actually picked up by thevane 38 during each revolution of the vane 38, it only being essentialthat the vane 38 serve to dislodge all the balls, whether there be oneball or many, from the recesses and elevated to a greater height andthereafter released to gravitate to the region of the recesses. Suchessential function can of course be realized if only the lower portionof the body 28 be employed and have a radius of curvature greater thanthe radius of action of the rotating vane 38 as such configuration wouldenable the vane 38 to dislodge the balls from the recesses and move themup along the curvature of the body 28 until the clearance between 14 theend edge 40 of the vane 38 clears the body 28 by an amount sufficient toallow the balls to pass therebetween and back in a reverse direction tothe region of the recesses.

Since from the foregoing the illustrated embodiment of the invention issusceptible to numerous variations and modifications without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, attention is directed to the appendedclaims in order to ascertain the actual scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for closing an electric circuit in a random manner, theimprovement comprising a plurality of individual means for competing tocapture a ball moving among such plurality of individual means, at leastone and less than all of said individual means being provided with anormally open circuit element means responsive to capture of a ball bysuch individual means to close such circuit element means, a ball, andmeans for periodicaly freeing the ball from the plurality of individualmeans and causing movement of the freed ball among the plurality ofindividual means, said means for feeding the ball including a membermounted for rotation relative to said plurality of individual means withelectrical means being provided for rotating said member at apredetermined rate, said member having a travel path with each of saidplurality of individul means being juxtaposed to the travel path of therotating member, whereby a predetermined probability of closure of thenormally open circuit element means is caused to recur periodically.

2. The combination of claim 1, including an electrically actuated signalmeans, and means responsive to closure of the normally open circuitelement means for coupling the signal means to a source of electricalenergy.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the last recited means includesan electric cash register provided with an intermittently energized,electrically actuated registering means, with the normally open circuitmeans being in electrical parallel to the registering means, and meansoperative upon the signal means being coupled to a source of electricalenergy to keep the signal means coupled to a source of electricalenergy.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual meanscomprises a body having a concave upper surface and having a pluralityof recesses in the upper surface, said normally open circuit elementmeans provided for said at least one recess comprising a pair ofelectrically isolated electrical contacts disposed in said at least onerecess and adapted to be electrically engaged by the ball when thelatter is received and retained in said at least one recess, with saidball being electrically conductive, whereby the ball can electricallybridge and close the normally open circuit element means, said memberbeing so constructed and arranged with respect to the concave surface tomove the ball from the recess capturing the same to a relatively higherportion of the concave surface once during each cycle of rotation of themember.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the member has a concave surfacefacing in the direction of rotation thereof, whereby a ball engagedthereby is scooped up by the member during rotation of the latter.

6. In apparatus for closing an electric circuit in a random manner, theimprovement comprising a plurality of individual means for competing tocapture a ball moving among such plurality of individual means, at leastone and less than all of said individual means being provided with anormally open circuit element means responsive to capture of a ball bysuch individaul means to close such circuit element means, a ball, andmeans for periodically freeing the ball from the plurality of individualmeans and causing movement of the freed ball among the plurality ofindividual means, whereby a predetermined probability of closure of thenormally open circuit element means is caused to recur periodically,said plurality of individual means comprising a body having a concaveupper surface and having a plurality of recesses in the upper surface,said normally open circuit element means provided for said at least onerecess comprising a pair of electrically isolated electrical contactsdisposed in said at least one recess and adapted to be electricallyengaged by the ball when the latter is received and retained in said atleast one recess, with said ball being electrically conductive, wherebythe ball can electrically bridge and close the normally open circuitelement means, and wherein the last recited means comprises a shaftmounted for rotation above the concave surface, a constant speedelectric motor drivingly connected to the shaft and a radially extendingvane fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith, with the vane having afree end spaced from the shaft by an amount such as to pass duringrotation of the shaft adjacent the concave surface With runningclearance, whereby the vane will engage and force the ball from such ofthe recesses in which it is received and the ball will fall free fromengagement with the vane to the concave surface on further rotation ofthe vane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,319,038 10/1919 Beeler.

3,068,008 12/1962 Saltzman et a1. 273-138 X 3,138,385 6/ 1964 Giacobello273138 FOREIGN PATENTS 253,015 6/ 1926 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner ARNOLD W. KRAMER, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

